When Teen Drivers Mix Alcohol and Marijuana

We all know drinking and driving don’t mix, but what happens when you mix drinking with the simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana?

According to a study published earlier this year in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, when teenagers combined alcohol with marijuana, the risks of unsafe driving were significantly higher, with such teens being 50 to 90 percent more likely to engage in unsafe driving then teens who didn’t drink or smoke pot.

In this study, the researchers analyzed alcohol and marijuana drug use patterns from annual surveys of 72,053 12th grade students in the U.S. from 1976 to 2011. The study found that teenagers who drank were 40 percent more likely to report getting a traffic ticket and 24 percent more likely to report being involved in a motor vehicle accident, as compared to those teens who did not drink or smoke pot. However, teenagers who drank and smoked pot at the same time were 90 percent more likely to report getting a traffic ticket and 50 percent more likely to report being involved in a crash.

Previous studies have indicated that teens who frequently used alcohol or marijuana had a higher chance of getting involved in a crash. This recent study suggests that patterns of alcohol and marijuana use are also associated with the risk of unsafe driving.

While the results indicate that the simultaneous use of alcohol and marijuana has a greater impact on teenagers’ driving, another factor might be that teenagers who use both alcohol and marijuana at the same time may be inclined to take risks.

If you or someone you love has been injured as a result of an accident involving an impaired driver, Bradley I. Kramer and his experienced legal team are here to help you obtain the compensation to which you are entitled. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

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